God gains another instrument of praise: NGU remembers Brandon McDaniel
Posted by The Skyliner on March 25th, 2009Lara Eller
Adviser
North Greenville University students, administration, faculty and friends are trusting God to restore their hearts and minds after the tragic loss of Brandon McDaniel. Brandon was killed in a one-car accident Tuesday morning, March 18 between 3 and 5 a.m.
Since the announcement of his death, Brandon’s friends and family have posted over 80 expressions of love, pictures, tagged notes and blogs on his facebook page. Most of the messages spoke directly to Brandon and expressed a promise to see him again in heaven. Many spoke of his talent as a musician and his service to his Savior.
Brandon had just returned from a weeklong trip to India with the Missionary Media Minitstries class led by Dr. Linwood Hagin and Shur Gopal.
“Brandon was one of my very best students,” Gopal said. “He was quiet, observant, sharp and very respectful of his professors. He loved the Lord with all his heart. I will certainly miss him in my classes as well as in my life.”
The members of the India mission team were quick to say the time spent together was an extremely powerful experience.
“Brandon was an amazing friend to me. I’m so grateful that I had the privilege of spending the week in India with him,” Jared Barber, senior media ministry, said. “Giving and loving were the essence of Brandon, because he understood true love. He had Christ in his life and that is the greatest example of love. Brandon, I love you bro, I’ll see you soon.”
Brandon’s long time friend and fellow India traveler Trey Lancaster said, “Brandon was a great friend. We knew each other for about four and a half years and he was always there to listen to the stuff I had to say, and was willing to give me advice and encouragement. He was so on fire for God and wasn’t afraid or ashamed to share his faith and beliefs with anyone at anytime. I loved him as a brother. Hold fast, BrandonBi (Bi means brother in Bengali, a language spoken in India). I miss you bro.
Brandon was a guitar player back-up vocalist for the Christian music group mycalvary. They traveled all over the Carolinas and surrounding areas, including the chapel on NGU campus in the 2008 spring semester, sharing the stage with Christian rapper, Lecrae.
During his time in India, Brandon spoke passionately about the adventures with his team:
“God is working. God is moving. God is convicting. God is breaking. God is building. God is doing huge things and He is using the country of India to show me how real those things are. We serve a God that is active. We serve a God that convicts and changes lives all over the world in all types of cultures. He is passionate about His people and desires for them to know Him and to live their lives for Him. It is a beautiful thing.”